Kapa Making with Ka'iulani de Silva

Mākeke Kapolei, the weekly farmer’s and green market at Kapolei High, will feature kumu kapa Ka‘iulani de Silva on Thursday, July 5 from 4 – 6 p.m. She will demonstrate the Hawaiian traditional art of kapa (bark cloth) making, explaining the plants and tools used, how the fiber is prepared and beaten, and printing with ‘ohe ka pala (bamboo stamps).  Kapa was an integral part of every part of life in ancient Hawai‘i, for birth, marriage, daily apparel, and burial.   and printing with traditional Hawaiian ‘ohe ka pala.  You can even try decorating kapa yourself. This activity is made possible by a grant from the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority (funder) and Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement.

Making 'Ohe Hano Ihu with Kawika Au

Mākeke Kapolei presented Kawika Au from Waialua, O‘ahu, who demonstrated the craft of making ‘ohe hano ihu (bamboo nose flute). Kawika is a cultural practitioner and cultural educator. He learned his crafts studying from master Hawaiian carvers and craftsmen, but more importantly by sitting at the feet of his kupuna (elders). Kawika believes that “education is only truly gained when you share what you have learned." Many children from a summer program came to visit Uncle Kawika and make their own nose flute.

CNHA Community Development Specialist, Katie Gallagher and Sayo Costantino, Malama Learning Center Environmental Educator, at Makeke Kapolei. This activity was made possible by a grant from the Hawai`i Tourism Authority (funder) and CNHA (administrator).